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REPORT: Nash shines for Sussex on see-saw day at New Road

16-May-2012

Chris Nash starred with 84 on a see-saw first day of Sussex’s LV=County Championship Division One clash with Worcestershire at New Road.

Michael Yardy won the toss and elected to bat on a bright day at New Road. It was hard to believe with the glorious sunshine that the ground was underwater only a couple of weeks ago and once Nash got into his stride; the outfield showed no shines of dampness as he and Ed Joyce raced to a 50 partnership.

It was Nash who was the aggressor though and with Joyce struggling to show the form which saw him reach a century on Sunday in the Clydesdale Bank 40 against the Unicorns, he attempted to work Richard Jones to the onside but nicked behind to wicketkeeper Ben Scott to depart for only 6.

Nash continued to play beautifully and had it not been for the lush outfield he may have accumulated more value for some of his shots. He reached his 50 from 64 balls which included 8 fours, seeing Sussex through to 101 for 1 at lunch.

It was a little while after the first interval when Nash drove loosely from a Gareth Andrew delivery which saw Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell take a sharp throat-high chance at slip. Murray Goodwin followed shortly after, trapped leg-before by David Lucas. Luke Wells and Michael Yardy settled in for a gritty afternoon session but they both showed glimpses of some impressive shots in an attempt for force the pace.

They put on 43 before left-arm seam struck again. This time in the shape of Jack Shantry, who struck Yardy low down on the pad before enticing Wells to attempt to work him into the onside to pick up another lbw.
Joe Gatting’s shot to get off the mark was a glorious drive to the cover boundary for four but it was a similar shot that brought about his downfall as his uppish stroke went straight into the hands of Matt Pardoe at cover point off Shantry. Gatting’s demise made it five wickets lost for Sussex in the afternoon session for only 67 runs but the pendulum swung back in the visitors’ favour shortly after tea.

Ben Brown and Naveed Arif Gondal added 30 runs swiftly in only four overs and that set the tone for their partnership which was to reach 84 and take Sussex past 250. Both players looked settled and played their shots and looked set to lead Sussex to the close until Brown got a top edge from Lucas which flew vertically, and Vikram Solanki charged back to take the catch. Gondal followed shortly after in the next over, swatting at a Jones bouncer to a get a nick behind to Ben Scott.

Steve Magoffin (24*) and James Anyon (2*) negotiated the remaining overs and in a day which offered fluctuating fortunes for both sides, Sussex closed on 283 for 8.

Image: Chris Nash on the way to his 84 at New Road today against Worcestershire on Day One of their LV=CC clash (Getty Images)